The training concept extracted core military occupational specialty skills from the Training and Readiness Manual and developed a scenario-based training evolution to test Marines within each required mission set.

The training culminated with an off-site final exercise to test the skills and procedures developed throughout the training.

On Aug. 19, the Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence Detachment, currently preparing for assignment to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, began the Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence block of instruction.

The following four weeks of classroom material were led by seasoned professionals and subject matter experts, and would entail more than 200 hours of detailed instruction covering specific training and events.

The classes were presented in accordance with Marine Corps Training and Education Command guidelines for curriculum development and consisted of student guides, PowerPoint presentations, practical exercises, performance evaluations, and guided discussions.

The content within the period of instruction would include everything from refresher training on basic MOS fundamentals to advanced techniques, tactics, and procedures learned throughout the instructor’s combined careers.

The first two weeks were dedicated to the discipline of counterintelligence.

Students received training within each of the five functional areas of counterintelligence as well as classes on intelligence law and intelligence oversight.

In order to complete the practical exercises assigned within the block, the detachment was required to work beyond normal business hours to include nights, weekends, and holidays. Throughout the training, various elements within 1st Intelligence Battalion, played specific roles to scripts which were carefully crafted in order to challenge the Marines and better prepare them for future deployments.

For example, the Battalion Commander surprised the detachment during one scenario by playing the role of a fictitious MEU commander to provide students the experience of executing an intelligence brief to various elements of the chain of command over the functional areas of counterintelligence.

Weeks three and week four of classroom instruction were dedicated to mastering the various skills within the discipline of human intelligence.

The Marines gained a thorough and in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities throughout the various combatant commands.

Throughout this phase, the detachment developed their own unique processes and procedures for supporting various missions which MEUs often support in real-world operations.

Upon completion of the four-week classroom portion of the course, the detachment departed Camp Pendleton to test their skills in a final culmination of the training evolution, an intensive and realistic final exercise located at an off-site location in Washington.

Upon arrival, the detachment was immediately tasked with supporting a notional MEU conducting an exercise in a fictional foreign country.

The detachment managed their operations and support to the MEU throughout ongoing operations over a 12-day training scenario.

To accomplish the prescribed missions, the detachment was required to coordinate with local U.S. Army elements, law enforcement, and government employees just as they would in the real-world environment if they were supporting MEU operations.

The overall completion of this training evolution marked the third successful iteration of the Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence block of instruction, each one building on the other in scenario complexity, overall support received, and training effectiveness for the detachment.

One aspect which makes this training program successful is that the classroom portion and final exercise are quickly and easily adaptable to support the specific training requirements of nearly all operating environments, whether assigned to the MEU, preparing for a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, or training for unique conflicts awaiting Department of Defense intelligence collectors in the future.

With each successful training evolution, the Marines of Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence Company continue to build on the operational familiarity and strong professional relationships with sister services in the Army and Air Force, while simultaneously strengthening each other’s ability to fully support multiple mission sets.